As The Wind Blows

Monday, June 11, 2018

Yes, I know I have been MIA in the blogging scene, not sharing the latest events in the Huntsville area, neglecting to introduce the newest gadgets or failing to showcase amazing small businesses that

you need to check out. I want to apologize! I seriously got a bit burnt out and put my first writing love on the back burner. I found myself so busy ghost writing for other brands, studying to become a Certified Life Coach and getting my youngest graduated from high school that I left you without a strong beat to step to. Well I'm back and I promise not to take you for granted anymore.

I decided to come back needed a bang so I/m going to share a MUST attend event that has gone from great to the greatest. Was that a bit much? I am just so excited to be covering events again LOL

expansion of the annual event Big Spring Crush Food & Wine Festival. This event is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year and instead of asking for gits they are giving us one! The Festival will now be the entire weekend and will incorporate the Jazz in the Park to end the weekend with an equally sophisticated but sultry musical sendoff. The saxophonist Alex Banks II gave us a taste of what was to come at the press conference playing while the media was mingling and asking additional questions. Mr. Banks a local favorite, will be the featured artist at the event capping Sunday Brunch and Champagne Testing.

Before leaving the press conference I spotted a

table with chocolate truffles to sample, so of course I made my way over to give them a try. The chocolate was provided by Michelle's Chocolate Laboratory and when I say to you that it was good I mean it was gooood! The company is based in Birmingham but trust me its worth adding to your list when planning your next mini road trip. Homegrown provided a lovely press kit that along with the official information contained a wonderful bottle of champagne and two of Michelle's Chocolate Lab truffles that i plan to have for breakfast tomorrow! Don't judge me, who wouldn't want Truffles & Mimosas in the morning!

This year you can connect with others attending the event and the latest updates by following and using the hashtags #IHaveACrush #CrushWineFestival

Here's the Official Press Release! Don't miss out on the promotional rates and get your tickets ASAP!

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., June 11, 2018: - Homegrown Huntsville

hosts the fifth annual Big Spring Crush, a downtown wine & food festival held September 28 – 30th in Big Spring Park East. Successfully selling out tickets the past four years, the festival makes the jump this year to a weekend long event for Huntsville, Alabama. The festival offers 150 wine labels for patrons to taste. A stage will highlight local entertainment and provide ambiance for festival goers while food trucks prepare wine inspired menu items. This year, the festival offers new weekend packages, a Friday night winemaker dinner and a collaboration with Jazz in the Park for a Sunday brunch and champagne tasting.

The new ticket packages will give patrons access to a weekend full of exclusive food and wine events. The Ultimate VIP Package for two covers every event: a Friday night high-end wine tasting, a Friday night seated dinner catered by Church Street Purveyor, Saturday VIP access, private cheese and chocolate wine pairing events on Saturday and a Sunday Jazz Brunch and champagne tasting. There is also a foodie package that includes all the food specific events, a wino weekender package for connoisseurs that want access to a weekend of high end wine tastings and of course a Big Spring Crusher package that covers your admission to the festival on Saturday and the additional tastings on Friday and Sunday.

Tickets for Big Spring Crush are on sale starting today. Packages range from $450 for the Ultimate VIP Package which covers two guests to $80 for the Big Spring Crusher. The only way to attend the exclusive tasting on Friday night and the cheese & chocolate pairing events on Saturday is through the purchase of a package. The VIP passes are $65 and grant early access to the festival on Saturday at 5pm and access to a private VIP area with additional seating and high-end wine tastings from Church Street Wine Shoppe at 6pm. The Friday VIP dinner passes are $65. The Sunday Jazz Brunch and Champagne tasting is $40.

General admission grants access to the festival and unlimited wine tastings. Incentives are available based on how early you purchase your ticket. The first 400 general admission tickets sold are only $40, tickets are then $45 until July 31st, the remaining tickets are $50. All tickets can be purchased at www.HomegrownHuntsville.com. They are all limited in quantity to ensure growth is well executed. Homegrown continues to strive for quality over quantity. No tickets sold at the gate.

Theoretically I love to travel. I look forward to the exposure to new cuisines, immersing myself in the culture/customs and the stamps on my passport. Exploring the landscapes from my favorite television shows like Vera, Shetland and The Fall, retracing the steps of the characters and showing off my newly acquired accent. Meeting up with friends that share little know facts, visiting off the beaten path restaurants like an amateur Anthony Bourdain (RIP),relive the adventure over and over again through my one of a kind SnapChat stories, Instagram post and jaw dropping Facebook Live sessions. The only problem is that I have never traveled abroad in my life. Well when I resided in Michigan I went to Canada (Windsor, Toronto and Niagara Falls) but I simply needed to furnish my drivers license and I was in and out in a flash. I don't have a passport, I am a wee bit afraid of flying, I am allergic to just about everything, my weight has me examining every distant and seat that i may need to wrangle and my bank account is saying Whoa Nelly!

But..... My cousin just invited me (Well semi invited me... I asked to go) to Ireland in June 2019!The

original offer was a cousins trip to Atlanta but no offense to the ATL, I been there - done that. She then offered (wink) to cover the living arrangements with flight and spending money my only concern for the next 365 days. I got so excited. I started looking for flights, sharing my upcoming plans with my family, reading Visit Ireland blogs and then it hit me. What the hell was I thinking? Had I lost my mind? Reality check! I am currently a freelance, entrepreneur, small business owner... basically fancy words for "broke" individual. My digestive system only works part time, my body negatively reacts to 80% of the food in this world, I'm a bit afraid of flying and a seat belt extender is how i greet the flight attended before boarding.

So here we are, odds against me but I am cheesing like a kid in a free candy store. I have decided I

will beat the odds and with the Luck of the Irish be drinking whiskey in Dublin this time next year.What is my plan you say? I have decided to kick start my business and truly focus on taking paid clients. I am going to save every dollar towards this trip of a lifetime. I want to be as healthy as I can be so I am jump starting my diet too. Protein has always been good to me so Low Carb is the perfect choice for me. I am going to strive to loose 100 pounds in a year with dieting and exercising. Finally I have created an Go Fund Me page in hopes that lovers of travel and people who pity me decide to donate and help my cause. I am going to share every step of this journey with you guys. Make sure you are following me on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram so you won't miss a step. I will also update monthly here on the blog.

Have you traveled to Ireland? Any suggestions? Have you tried a Low Carb diet? Any fun receipes?

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

I've meet this wonderful guy with a great job, loves to travel and has the same moral compass but there is one problem... Our sex life is horrible. I am not seeing fireworks or waking the neighbors. Help! What should I do?

I have received several variations of this question but they all have one thing in common... Can a relationship work without sexual gratification?

The key to finding the answer to this question lies in the definition of relationship. If you are looking for a strictly physical connection and seriously nothing more, then I would have to suggest you move on. You can try and communicate that you are not stimulated or feel an animal attraction but why would he care. If you aren't striving for more than sexual stimulation then he has no motivation to be better for you. You have formed a selfish connection so expectations should be very low.

If your definition of a relationship includes building a life together consisting of love, commitment and respect for each other than my answer would be YES. I do not believe in the theory that people

can be "sexually non compatible". The key exists within the effort to satisfy, communication and the willingness to vulnerably submit to your partner. Sexual satisfaction is of course physical but if you master the mental game, you will no longer be impressed by fireworks because you have daily visits to the stars! Sex becomes more when its tied to a goal of pleasing your partner instead of looking to be pleased. This is the area where communication and evaluation is a must.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Well another 7 days are under my belt! I'm moving closer and closer to 100 days of sending those nasty bad habits to the file of distant memories. My water intake has increased to 118 ounces a day (10 oz shy of my goal), I have filled my activity circle at least twice this week on my Apple Watch ... I have been moving this body! I feel strength coming in my knees and started the process of being able to walk up my stairs without turning to the side to lessen the pressure. I have a lot to be excited about and feel motivated to add another level. I've dusted off my hand and ankle weight and have them ready for this upcoming week. I won't be weighing myself this week but I know that progress is being made.

Now it hasn't been without some set backs. The struggle is still there with my food intake. I have been skipping breakfast again, not taking my Protein/Fiber powder mix and having a craving for chocolate that is crazy strong! I have resolved to get this under control by setting timers in my iPhone.. Yes, you read that correctly, I have added to my calendar that its time to eat, go grab your protein shake right next to my kids work schedules. Using tools to keep you on track that are practical can help you stay focus on conscious of your time. Vitamins and supplements are the next area I want to conquer consistently so I will be adding a reminder to take them to my trusty calendar too!

Sunday, February 5, 2017

It's Sunday and it's time to get to saving! Grab your Sunday newspaper and clip those coupons! This week (2/5) there should be two; The Smart Source (SS) and the Red Plum (RP). The type of inserts and coupons vary by area and region so keep that in mind. This week my goal is to grab a few items that my family continuously need like toothpaste, tissue and laundry detergent but I also want to take advantage of some of the money making opportunities. I have resolved to not leave "any coins on the table" regardless to the amount! My second step will be to make my way to the Krazy Coupon lady app and see what moneymaking trips she has for us this week.

*Tip* Check your local Dollar Tree to see if you can grab that Sunday newspaper for $1*

First up is a money making trip to Walmart...Coupons & Rebate apps will have a few coins falling in your pocket.

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Relationship Wednesday is here! I will be answering the questions I receive via email from you guys regarding dating, marriage and love in general. For those who are new to my blog, I have been married for over 20 years, a mother of three and a completely open book about my ups and downs. I love to help others find meaningful relationships that are based on a sense of self love. I try to give advice that is straight forward and practical so you can understand it and apply to your life.

This week's question: How do you know when a guy is truly looking for a serious relationship vs spitting game to get me in the bed?

My advice: This question has been asked to me and many other life coaches over and over. It's a great question but it always seem to send the hairs on the back of my neck to a full salute. Let's first talk about my problem with this question. I don't like the way it reads that the decision of the relationship is in the hands of the man. You have just as much say in how serious the relationship will be as he does. You have to come into any relationship looking for someone that can enhance not complete you. If you are comfortable with yourself, bring to the table what you are looking for and have a genuine heart that is open to be loved than you won't have to concern yourself with this question.

Sunday, January 29, 2017

I am in no way a seasoned couponer but I am learning to get the products I need at a very low

cost. For the past year, several of my digital friends have been pleading with me to start couponing. I don't know why but the anxiety would move to 10 when I reach the register with coupons in my hand. I follow directions to the letter and if for any reason something seem to being be going left.... Abandon Abandon is what I scream (inside) and leave the store immediately. Well, I've gotten better! I am less anxious but still following directions. My favorite teacher is The Krazy Coupon Lady... She has a wonderful blog and even an app. She makes couponing so much easier by doing most of the work for you.

The key to couponing is to have patience, a Sunday paper, a printer, some popular apps and a little time to shop & organize. Each week I'm going to highlight a few deals that I'm going to try that are simple to execute. This week the deal is a money maker at CVS . Yes, this deal will put some coins in your pocket. Make sure you have an ibotta account. (If you are new to ibotta use my link and you will make $10 more on this deal).....